As England's national football team progresses in the tournament, a segment of Scottish football fans are grappling with divided loyalties, with some vocalizing a sentiment of supporting any team other than England.
SNP MP Lara Bird, who is half English, commented that Scottish supporters had become "really passionate" fans of Mexico and Norway during their matches against England, indicating her own likely support for Norway. Bird described her comments as light-hearted, but they prompted mixed reactions, with some labeling the sentiment as "pathetic" and others expressing confusion.
MP Karl Turner noted that while he would support Scotland against any other nation, his allegiance would shift if England were involved. "If Scotland were playing anybody else in the world apart from England I'd be supporting them," Turner posted. This sentiment reflects a common feeling in Scotland, where supporting England, referred to as the "Auld Enemy," is not a given. For many north of the border, England's elimination from a competition is seen as the most entertaining outcome.
Social media discussions often feature clips of comedian Kevin Bridges' 2020 stand-up routine, where he impersonates an English person asking about supporting other teams against England, and a Scottish person confirming, "That's pretty much it, mate."
Despite this, some Scottish individuals have expressed support for the English team. Broadcaster Andrew Neil, following Scotland's elimination from the tournament, declared his support for England. The varying reactions highlight a complex dynamic of national identity and sporting rivalry among Scottish football fans as England advances in the competition.